Lock.



PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

A. D. PLOWDEN.

LOOK.

. APPLICATION PILBD JUNE 19, 1902.

NO MODEL.

UNi'tun States I ATET OFFICE.

ARTHUR D. PLOWDEN, OF ALCOLU, SOUTI-I CAROLINA.

LOCK.

PECIFICTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,325, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed June 19, 1902. Serial No. 112,378. (No model.)

it consists in the peculiar construction and` combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudin al central sectional view of a padlock embodyingr my improvements, showing the key inserted in the key-plug and the tumblers disposed by the key in position to release the key-plug, so that the latter may be partly turned to release the shackle. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on a plane indicated by the line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the key-plug turned in position to release the shackle. Fig. -t is a detail elevation of the shackle. Fig. 5 is a detail end elevation of the key-plug.

The lock-casel may be of any suitable form and may be made in any suitable manner. As here shown, it is composed of a pair of matched Sections 2, secured together by bolts or pins 3; but this may be departed from within the scope Aof my invention, andV I do not desire to limit myself to any particular construction of the lock-case. i

At one end of the lock-case is a segmental bore 4, one end of which is closed, as at 5, and the other end of which is open at one end of the lock-case, as at 6. This bore is angular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3. In the said bore 4 is the inner portion of aV shackle 7, which is nearlya complete ring. That portion thereof which lies in the bore 4 when the shackle is closed in locked position, as shown in Fig. 1, is angular in cross-section to match the bore. The outer portion of the shackle is preferably cylndrical iu form, and at the outer end of the shackle is a projecting stud 8, adapted to enter a recess 9 when the shackle is in closed or locked position. Preferably the outer portion of the shackle is formed with alug 10, having an opening 11, whereby a suitable chain may be attached to the shackle.

The latter is provided near its inner end on one side with a pair of reversely-disposed segmental locking-grooves 12, which are segments of the same circle, are reversely disposed with reference to each other, are opened on opposite sides of the shackle, and the inner ends of which where they are closed forming stop-Shoulders 13. A coiled spring 14 is here shown, which has one end fixed in the lock-case and the other end attached to the shackle. The function of this spring is to open the shackle by partly turning the same in the bore 4, when the shackle is disengaged by the key-plug hereinafter described.

The lock-case is provided with a cylindrical bore 15, longitudinally thereof and radially disposed with reference to the segmental bore 4. The inner end of lthe said bore 15 communicates with the said segmental bore 4. In the said bore 15 is disposed a cylindrical keyplug 16, which is adapted to be partly turned therein. The inner end of the key-plug is provided at diametrically opposite points with a pair of projecting segmental lookingstuds 17, which are adapted to enter the grooves 12 in the shackle to lock the latter, as shown in Fig. 1. When the key-plug is partly turned, in the present instance to onefourth of a revolution, the said locking-studs move out of the grooves 12 to clear and lie on opposite sides of the shackle, whereupon the spring 14immediate1y causes the shackle to open. At the outer end of the key-plug the same is provided with an annular rabbet, in which is a coiled spring 18, one end of which is secured to the key-plug and the other end of which is secured to the lookcase at one side of the bore 15. The function of this spring is to normally maintain the'key-plug in position to lock the shackle in the closed position of the latter. The keyplug is provided with a longitudinal bore, which in the present instance is of cylindrical form. Concentrioally in the bore is a centerpin 19, which is securely fixed at its inner end in the key-plug and which is adapted to enter the bore of the stem of the key 20. The latter is in Fig. 1 shown inserted in the bore of the key-plug in position to turn the latter to release the shackle. The key-plug is provided with grooves 21, which are radial with reference to the bore thereof and which com- ICO municate therewith. In the present instance the key-plug is shown as provided with two of these grooves on diametrically opposite sides of the bore; but' this may be varied within the scope of the appended claims, and I do not desire to limit myself in this particular, as it is obvious that any suitable number of the said grooves may be employed. That portion of the lock-case which is opposite the onter end of the key-plug is provided with a bore and grooves to register with those of the key-plug. The key-plug is made with transverse holes for the accommodation of pin-tumblers 22 of the construction shown. The inner sections of the pin-tumblers are engaged by the lateral wings 23 of the key when the latter is inserted, and the said wings of the key coact with the outer Sections 23a of the pin-tumblers, which are disposed in bores 24, with which the lock-case is provided, and with Springs 25 in-the said bores to aline the meeting ends of the pin-tumblers With the perimeter of the key-plug to adapt the latter to be turned by the key. The wings of the key are notched appropriately to engage the respective pin-tumblers, and by varying the length of the inner sections of the latter and correspondingly varying the notches of the key-wings the lock may be so constructed that it will be practically impossible to pick the same or to make a key that will lit it without the use of a tem plet. Any suitable number of the pin-tumblers may be employed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a lock, the combination of a ringshackle, and a revoluble key-plug terminally adjacent and perpendicular to the shackle, said key-plug having a terminal eccentric stud and the shackle having a segmental groove open at one end to be entered and traversed by the stud When the key-plug is turned to lock the shackle in its normal position.

2. In a lock, the combination of a ringshackle, a key-plug adapted to engage and lock the same, a spring to open the shackle when the same is released by the key-plug, and a spring to normally retain the plug in position to engage and lock the shackle, substantially as described.

3. In a lock, the combination of a case having a segmental bore open at one end at one side of the case and angular in cross-section, a ring-shackle in said bore having an angular portion to engage the same, which angular portion is provided with a segmental groove having one end open and extending partly across the same, the inner end of said groove forming a stop-shonlder, a revoluble key-plug in a bore in the case and disposed radially with reference to the segmental bore, said plug having a lock-Stud at its inner end to enter and clear the segmental groove in the shackle and looking means for the keyplug, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR D. PLOWDEN.

Witnesses:

` R. P. SMITH,

O. E. ST. AMAND. 

